A sharp change in pressure that travels through a medium faster than the speed of sound, or metaphorically, a sudden and powerful effect that spreads through a situation.
Compound of 'shock' (from French 'choc', meaning sudden impact) + 'wave' (from Old English 'wafian', to fluctuate). The scientific term emerged in the early 20th century with advances in physics and explosives research, later extending to metaphorical uses.
Shockwaves represent one of physics' most dramatic phenomena - they're literally pressure moving faster than sound itself! The metaphorical use is perfect because just like physical shockwaves, emotional or social shockwaves often outpace people's ability to process what's happening.
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